Director of Civilian-Military Programs
Brig. Gen. (Ret) Bruce Oliveira
BG Oliveira retired from the Hawaii National Guard in March 2016 and is currently the Civil-Military Programs Director responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a wide range of community program initiatives and events that promote the mission, vision, and goals of the State of Hawaii Department of Defense.
BG (R) Oliveira enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard on August 1, 1978. He has served in a variety of command and staff positions in the 29th Infantry Brigade and the 25th Infantry Division throughout his career. In 1980, upon completion of Officers Candidate School from the Hawaii Military Academy, BG (R) Oliveira was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, serving first as a Rifle Platoon Leader and subsequently as Anti-tank Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader, Combat Support Company Commander, Anti-tank Company Commander, and Battalion Operations Officer. He was later assigned to the 29th Support Battalion as Operations Officer and then Executive Officer. Follow on assignments include Assistant Operations Officer, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade; Commander, 25th Infantry Division Detachment Rear; Brigade Operations Officer, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade; and Commander, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry.
He was activated for federal service on August 15, 2004 and served as the Deputy
Commander of the 29th Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004-2006. In June 2007, he assumed the duties as the Commander of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. On August 19, 2008, he was activated for federal service, serving as Commander, Task Force Lava Thunder in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, responsible for 4,100 Soldiers from Arizona, Oklahoma, Samaoa, Guam, Sipan, and Hawaii.
On June 1, 2010, General Oliveira was assigned duties as Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Hawaii National Guard and the Director of the Joint Staff. He served as principal advisor to the Adjutant General and was responsible for assisting the Adjutant General in formulating, developing, and coordinating all programs, policies, and plans affecting the Hawaii Army National Guard and its more than 3,000 citizen Soldiers. On 15 January 2014 General Oliveira assumed Command of the Hawaii Army National Guard responsible for the training, operational readiness, administration, logistical, and strategic planning. He ensured the Hawaii Army National Guard could respond to all State and Federal missions relating to homeland defense, security, and natural disasters.
In addition to his Federal mobilizations, General Oliveira served on several state missions in support of local authorities. Most notable were his duties as the Operations Officer with the 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry following Hurricane Iniki which on September 11, 1992 devastated the island of Kauai; and as Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Liaison-Hilo in support of Hawaii Civil in support of the Kilauea volcanic eruption and Hurricane Lane responses in 2018.
BG (R) Bruce E. Oliveira education includes a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Hawaii. He is also a graduate of the Infantry Officers’ Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia; the Command General and Staff College, in Leavenworth, Kansas; and the Army War College, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he earned his second Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.
(Current as of May 2024)